Expansion joint for pavement and the like



April 3, 1934. c. oLDER I EXPANSION JOINT FOR PAVEMENT AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 24, 1929 jggg,

Patented pr. 3,* 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXPANSION JOINT FOR PAVEMENT AND THE LIKE Clifford Older, Wilmette, Ill.

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to concrete iioors, pavements, sidewalks and the like, and is particularly concerned with expansion joints for such concrete structures, and the present application is a division of my prior application, Se-

rial No. 365,661, led May 24,'1929, Patent No. 1,856,722 of May 3, 1932. The present application relates to specic modifications of the invention not covered by the parent application.

The concrete pavements of the prior art are ordinarily constructed in a plurality of sections with cracks between the sections, and substantially larger expansion cracks located at regular intervals for the purpose of permitting `the longitudinal expansion of the pavement under changes of temperatureV of the pavement.

When the separate sections of the pavement expand, there lis a gradual sliding of the sections toward the expansion crack or joint, but when the sections subsequently contract, they do not tend to return to their former position, with the result that the relatively wide expansion crack soon disappears and is divided among the plurality of cracks formed between the adjacent sections of the pavement, and it is practically impossible to prevent this action of the pavement sections in closing up the expansion joint.

The open expansion joints and cracks between adjacent sections vsoonbecome lled with dust, soil, iioor sweepings or sand particles, and at this material is generally incompressible it follows that when expansion again takes place the joints cannot close between the adjacent sections and the whole series of sections is pushed still fur'- ther toward the expansion joint until eventually all of the joints, including the expansion joint,

becomes filled with hard packed unyielding' material. The purpose of the expansion joint is then defeated and further expansions of the concrete sets up compression stresses as great as would be the case had no expansion joint been .provided in the iirst place.

One of the objects of the present invention is the elimination of theforegoingdifficulties and others,'by the provision of an improved expansion joint of relatively simple and economical construction, which is adapted lto permit relative movement between adjacent sections of the pavement, and to prevent the filling of thecracks be- 50 tween the sections with dirt or other foreign material.

Another object is the provision of an improved expansion joint including an improved expamible member of simple and economical construction, a division member for supporting said exline 4 4 of Fig. 3.

pansible member andl for insuring the formation of separate sections of pavement, and aligning means carried bysaiddivision member for maintaining the separate sections of pavement in the same plane, while permitting expansion e@ or contraction of the separate sections under changes of temperature.

Another object of theyjnvention is the provision of improved expansion joint assemblies, each having particular advantages over the devices of the prior art by virtue of its specific structure and functions. y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, of which there is f one sheet;

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion 75 of a concrete pavement ffoor, sidewalk, or the like, which is equipped with an expansion joint constructed according to the present invention, 'in which the division plate is slidably mounted in the expansible member;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the metal parts of the expansion joint, with the concrete removed, the View being taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modifl- 85 cation in which both the-top and the bottom of the pavement are protected against the ingress of solid matter between the ends of adjacent pavement sectionsand in which the pavement sections are slidably supported with respect to 00` ,each other;

' Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the modiyiication of Fig; 3, taken on the plane-of the While the embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention is a concretepavement, it should be understood that the present invention is applicable to practically all forms of pavement or other monolithic construction in which it is desirable to provide an expansion joint between members 100 which are cast or molded in place, for the purpose of preventing theflling of the cracks with foreign material.

Referring to Fig. 1, 10 and 11 indicate the adjacent portions of concrete sections of a pavement, and in this embodiment the sections may be provided with a crack 12 naturally formed as the result of stresses when the adjacent sections contract, or formed by lmeans of a trowel or other tool when the sections are laid. The ex 110A pansible member 13 comprises a strip of noncorrosive sheet metal which is formed with an expansible central portion 14 and integral anchoring flanges 15 and 16 on each side of the expansible portion 14.

The specic type of expansion strip provided in Fig. 1 is preferably provided with a substantially V shaped expansible portion 14 having an upwardly extending rib 37 forming a groove 38 in thellower side of the expansible member 13 for receiving the upper edge of the division plate 31. The groove 38 is preferably of sufficient depth so that the expansible member may be fixedly supported upon the division plate 31 by means of the rib 37, and the rib 37 may slide upward on the division plate 31 when the pavement sections 10 and 11 contract under temperature changes.

The anchoring flanges 15 and 16 of the expansible member preferably extend downward and outward, and are provided with anchoring formations 17 and 18 for securely anchoring the expansible member 13 in each of the concrete sections 10 and 11. The division plate 31 preferably comprises a strip of metal which is formed with a longitudinally extending rib 19 of substantial Width having oblique side flanges 20, 21. The rib 19 and flanges 20, 21 form a metal lined recess 22 in the pavement section 10 and a protuberance23 along one edge of the pavement section 11, adapted to engage within the recess 22 to maintain the alignment ofthe pavement sections 10, 11 and prevent settling of one section relative to the other. 4

The expansion joint assembly may be supported in place by a plurality of wooden stakes 24, each having an axially extending slot 25 in its upper end for receiving the edge of the division plate 31. The concrete pavement sections 10, 11 are preferably finished off with curved surfaces 26, 27 and flat beveled surfaces 28, 29 substantially flush with the flanges of` the V shaped expansion member 13. The curved surfaces 26,. 27 are better adapted to receive the impact of the wheels passing from one pavement section to the other Without damaging the sections of pavement.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, in this modified expansion joint construction the crack 12 is protected by an expansible member 14 at thetop and a second expansible member 14 at the bottom. The expansible members 14 may be substantially the same in shape and construction as previously described, and are preferably provided with anchoring formations 30 comprising downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 32.

The division plate 33 comprises an elongated sheet metal member which is formed with a pair of vertically extending portions 34, 35 adapted to be locatedfin the position where crack '12 is desired. The portions 34, 35 are provided with laterally projecting flanges 36 extending from a point midway between the parts of the expansiblemembers 14 into the groove formed between the anchoring vflanges 30 and backwardly turned flanges 32.

The division plate 33 is also provided with horizontally extending anges 39, 40 joined by a portion 41 to form a rib on one side and a groove on the other side of the division plate 33. The groove between the flanges 39, 40 is adapted toreceive a metal plate 42, the other edge of which projects from the groove into the concrete section 10. The expansion joint assembly may be supported by separate stakes on each side or by stakes having upwardly extending legs 43, 44 with a recess 45 for receiving the corner of the plate 42 or the corner of the flanges 40,41. Theupwardly extending legs 43, 44 on the stakes are joined together by the lower end 46 of the stake which is driven into the earth.

In the vembodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, two expansion strips are flxedly supported upon the division plate 33, and the division plate 33 is adapted to form a metal lined recess forthe alignment plate 42.

The construction of Fig. 3 prevents the ingress of solid material into the crack 12 either from the top or the bottom, and when the sections contract the plate 42 slidably engages the anges 39 and 40 -and the V shaped metal expansible members 14 tend to straighten out to permit the expansion.

It will thus be observed that I have invented improved forms of expansion joints of the same general type as that shown in my prior application, having additional advantages by virtue of the improved construction and relation of the parts.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention; many modifications may be made without departing froml the spirit ofJ the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In an expansion joint assembly, the combination of a plurality of stakes having slots in their upper ends, with a division plate carried by said stakes and mounted in said slots, an expansible metal member carried by the upper end of said division plate, said expansible metal member having a` pair vof anchoring flanges, a substantially V shaped expansible portion, and a longitudinally extending rib, the walls of which form a slot for slidably receiving said division plate.

2. In an expansion joint assembly, the combination of a plurality of stakes having slots in their upper ends, with a division plate carried by said stakes and mounted in said slots, an expansible metal member carried by the upper end of said division plate, said expansible metal member having a pair of anchoring flanges, a substantially V shaped expansible portion, and a longitudinally extending rib, the walls of which form a slot for slidably receiving said division plate, said division plate having` a laterally projecting rib of tapering thickness adapted to form a metal` lined slot inI one concrete section for slidably receiving a complementary formation on the adjacent concrete section.

3. An expansion joint assembly comprising a plurality of bifurcated stakes, a division plate having a longitudinally extending rib formed by a pair of` parallel flanges, an alignment plate slidably mounted between said parallel flanges, said rib and alignment plate being supported by the legs of said stakes, said division plate having a laterally extending flange, and an expansible metal member having a pair of anchoring flanges and a V shaped expansible portion, said expansible member being mounted on said laterally. extending angeof said division plate.

4. An expansion joint assembly comprising a plurality of bifurcated stakes, a division plate pair of parallel flanges, an alignment plate slidably mounted between said parallel flanges, said rib and alignment plate being supported by the legs of said stakes, said division plate having a laterally extending flange, and an expansible metal member having a pair of anchoring flanges and a V shaped expansible portion, said expansible member being mounted on said laterally extending llange of said division plate, and a similar expansible member carried by a similar laterally extending flange on said division plate for enclosing a crack between adjacent concrete sections at the bottom of the concrete.

5. In a concrete pavement or the like, the combination of a pair of adjacent concrete sections separated by a crack, with an expansible metal member having a pair of laterally projecting anchoring flanges and having a substantially V shaped expansible portion, said concrete sections being formed flush with the surface of said V shaped expansible portion, a division plate located beneath said expansible portion, and a rib-like formation in said expansible portion for slidably engaging the upper edge of said dvision plate.

6. In a concrete pavement or the like, the combination of a pair of adjacent concrete sections separated by a crack, with an expansible metal member having a pair of laterally projecting anchoring flanges and having a substantially V shaped expansible portion, said concrete sections being formed flush with the surface of said V shaped expansible portion, a `division plate located beneath said expansible portion, and a pair of clamping flanges carried by said expansible metal member for engagement on the opposite sides of said division plate for securing said division plate to said expansible member.

'7. In a concrete pavement or the like, the combination of a pair of adjacent concrete sections separated by a crack, with an expansible metalv member having a pair of laterally projecting anchoring flanges andhaving a substantially V shaped expansible portion, said concrete sections being formed flush with the surface of said V shaped expansible portion, a division plate located beneath said expansible portion, and a rib-like formation in said expansible portion for slidably engaging the upper edge of said division plate, said division plate having a pair of laterally extending flanges joined by a vertically extending flange forming a rib to provide a metal lined recess in one of said sections, and a complementary protuberance on the adjacent section for maintaining said concrete sections in alignment with each other.

8. In a concrete pavement or the like, the combination of a pair of sections of concrete located adjacent each other and separated by a crack, an expansible metal member located at the top of said sections, and a second expansible member located at the bottom of said sections for closing said crack above and below said pavement, a division plate joining said expansible metal members and adapted to form the crack at a predetermined point, and an alignment plate carried by one of said sections and slidably mounted in said division plate to maintain said concrete sections in alignment with each other. l

9. In a concrete pavement or the like, the combination of a pair of sections of concrete located adjacent each other and separated by a crack, an expansible metal member located at the top of said sections, and a second expansible member located at the bottom of said sections for closing said crack above and below said pavement, a division plate joining said expansible metal members and adapted to form the crack at a predetermined point, and an alignment plate carried by one of said sections and slidably mounted in said division plate to maintain said concrete sections in alignment with each other, said expansible metal members being formed with a substantially V shaped expansible portion and said concrete sections being finished flush with the flanges of said V shaped portion at the top of said pavement.

l0. In an expansion joint for concrete pavements and the like, the combination of a pair of adjacent concrete sections with a plurality of slotted stakes located below said sections, said stakes supporting a metallic plate at its edge and said plate dividing said concrete sections, an expansible member having a medial expansible portion of substantially V-shape and having downwardly and inwardly extending anchoring flangesanchored in said concrete sections at each side, said expansible member being formed with an upwardly extending U-shaped rib forming a recess fitting on the upper edge of said division plate.

11. In a concrete expansion joint member, an expansible metal strip having a substantially U- shaped expansible central portion joined to anchoring flanges at each side, said generally U- shaped portion being provided with an upwardly extending rib at the juncture of the legs of the U, said rib extending into the U-shaped portion and forming a recess for receiving a division plate.

l2. In a contraction joint for concrete pavement or the like, the combination of a pair of sections of concrete having adjacent edges in juxtaposition with an expansible sealing strip of flexible metal for closing the crack which is formed between said concrete sections at said edges when the concrete contracts, anchoring extensions located at each side of said sealing strip and embedded in each of said concrete sections, said sealing strip having an intermediate expansible portion, whereby the sealing strip is extended laterally when the concrete sections contract, said intermediate portion comprising a pair of parallel flanges initially spaced from each otherV a distance equal to the thickness of a division plate to` receive a division plate located medially with respect' to said anchoring extensions.

13,. In a contraction joint for concrete pavement or the like, the combination of a pair of sections of concrete having adjacent edges in juxtaposition with an expansible sealing strip of flexible metal for closing the crack which is formed between said concrete sections at said edges when the concrete contracts, anchoring extensions located at each side of said sealing strip and embedded in each of said concrete sections, said sealing strip having an intermediate expansible portion, whereby the sealing strip is extended laterally when the concrete sections contract, said intermediate portion comprising a pair of parallel flanges initially spaced from each other a distance equal to the thickness of a division plate to receive a division plate located medially with respect to said anchoring extensions, and a division platel comprising a metal plate having its edge located between said parallel flanges whereby the division plate and sealing strip may be located in predetermined position with respect to each other for installation of the expansion joint.

14. In a contraction joint forconcrete pavement or the like, the combination of a pair of sections of concrete having adjacent edges in juxtaposition with an expansible sealing strip of exible metal for closingthe crack which is formed between said concrete sections at said edges when the concrete contracts, anchoring extensions located at each side of saidsealing strip and embedded in each of said concrete sections, said sealing strip having an intermediate expansible portion, whereby the sealing strip is extended, laterally when the concrete sections contract, said intermediate portion comprising a pair of parallel flanges initially spaced from each other a distance equal to the thickness of a division plate to receive a division plate located medially with respect t0 said anchoring extensions, and a division plate comprising a metal member having its upper edge located between said parallel flanges and initially engaged by said flanges, whereby the division plate is located to form a crack between said concrete sections, medially with respect to the anchoring extensions embedded in said sections.

15. In a contraction joint for concrete pavement or the like, the combination of a pair of sections of concrete having adjacent/edges in juxtaposition with an expansible sealing strip of exible metal for closing the crack which is formed between said' concrete sections at said edges when the concrete contracts, anchoring extensions located at each side of said sealing strip and embedded in each of' said concrete sec'- tions, said sealing strip having an intermediate .expansible portion, whereby the sealing strip tion below the upper surface of the concrete but adjacent thereto with the anchoring extensions extending into position to be embedded in each of the concrete sections. Y

CLIFFORD OLDER. 

